Toolbox containing a least one cable reel

ABSTRACT

Toolbox having closable cover with first cable reel and second cable reel being rotatably mounted in an interior of the toolbox, and first electrical cable, including a first connection end with an electrical plug, wound on said first reel and second electrical cable, including a second connection end with an electrical coupling, wound on said second reel. The first electrical cable and the second electrical cable are electrically coupled to each other. First cable wind-up arrangement is associated with the first cable reel, and second cable wind-up arrangement is associated with said second cable reel. Further, first cable pass-through opening is in a wall of said toolbox, such that the first connection end is adapted to pass through the first cable pass-through opening from the interior of the toolbox to an exterior of the toolbox, second cable pass-through opening in one of a same and a different wall of the toolbox, such that the second connection end is adapted to pass through the second cable pass-through opening from the interior of the toolbox to the exterior of the toolbox.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a U.S. National Stage of InternationalApplication No. PCT/EP 98/05031 filed Aug. 7, 1998 and claims priorityunder 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application No. 197 37 424.7 filedAug. 27, 1997.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention concerns a toolbox which may be used both by hobbyists andindustrial handworkers.

2. Discussion of Background Information

In the private and the industrial sector, it has long been known tooperate special tools and devices electrically. These include, forexample, drills, grinders, saws, and machines for tightening andremoving screws or nuts, as well as other devices, such as lights,heaters, and pumps (e.g., also for preparation of a working substance,such as compressed air for pneumatically driven tools or a pressurizedhydraulic oil for hydraulically activated tools). The expression “tool”used hereinafter also includes the aforementioned devices. Usually,connection to an electric network is necessary as a source of currentfor such tools. This applies in any case for high-performance tools, forwhose operation using a battery is inadequate. Frequently, operation ofsuch tools is only temporarily necessary such that a permanentlyinstalled electrical line is not reasonable for this.

Since the appropriate connection point to the electrical network isoften not located in the immediate vicinity of the site where the toolis to be operated, the length of the connection cable provided on thetool is frequently inadequate. Consequently, this cable must besupplemented by an extension cable. Thus, it is in many cases necessaryfor the tool to always have the extension cable available. This mustthen always be transported with the tool and must not get lost.

It is also known to store and transport tools of the type mentioned intoolboxes specifically provided therefor. There is not usually adequatespace for extension cables in such toolboxes.

DE 8227725 U1 describes a foldout toolbox for accommodating a hand drilland its accessories. The toolbox also includes an immovably attached andremovable cable reel for the electrical connection of the drill. Thecable end of the cable reel that is provided with an electrical plug ispassed through one side wall of the toolbox. The other cable end can bepulled out of the toolbox when its cover is open.

This prior art does, in fact, make it superfluous to provide a separateextension cable for the drill and to transport it separately each timeto the site where the drill is to be used. However, the use of the cablereel is only possible when the cover of the box is open. This is,however, disadvantageous with a toolbox which contains, on the one hand,other valuable devices besides the drill (or another electrically driventool), such as a drill dust vacuum, drill cassettes, drills for variousmaterials, as well as cutting, grinding, and polishing attachments, and,on the other hand, must frequently be used by professional handworkersat outdoor construction sites and assembly sites. Since a wide varietyof individuals have access to such sites, experience has shown that itis not possible to prevent a tool which is accessible for hourseveryday, for example, in an open toolbox, from being stolen repeatedly.

In addition, naturally, considerable amounts of dust and othercontaminants, which are obviously undesirable, can penetrate into such atoolbox whose lid is open, in particular at a construction site. Therisk also exists at a construction site where water is frequentlypresent that moisture or water can get into the open toolbox. In thecase of a toolbox containing electrical devices, this even results in asignificant danger to individuals working therewith.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Consequently, the present invention provides a toolbox which can also bedesigned in the form of a tool chest which includes an extension cablein the form of a cable reel for an electrical tool stored therein oranother electrical tool, which can also be used with the cover closed oreven locked and simultaneously prevents both unwanted looking into thetoolbox or even unauthorized access to the contents of the box and, alsopenetration of dust, dirt, moisture, and water into the toolbox.

The invention is directed to a toolbox with an electrical cable arrangedin the interior of the toolbox, which is wound on at least one cablereel rotatably attached in the toolbox, and a cable wind-up arrangement.A first cable pass-through opening is provided in one wall of thetoolbox, through which a first connection end of the electrical cablewith an electric plug is passed through from the interior of the toolboxto the outside. Moreover, a second cable pass-through opening isprovided in the wall of the toolbox, through which a second connectionend of the electrical cable with an electrical coupling is passedthrough from the interior of the toolbox to the outside.

The electrical cable used according to the invention includes a firstcable section with a first connection end on which the electrical plugis arranged, and of a second cable section with a second connection end,on which the electrical coupling is provided. The two cable sections maybe quite different in length.

The toolbox according to the invention is also equipped with a cablewind-up arrangement. This can, for example, be a handle or anappropriate recess on the periphery of the cable reel, with the aid ofwhich the cable reel can be manually rotated. Alternatively, the cablereel may also include a spring mechanism, by which the unwinding of thecable by pulling against this spring force occurs with the action of aknown latch when the desired cable length is reached and the winding upof the cable occurs by spring force alone.

According to a special embodiment, the cable wind-up arrangement isdesigned with a single wind-up mechanism for simultaneous unwinding andwinding of the cable section with the electrical plug and of the cablesection with the electrical coupling.

According to a further embodiment, a first cable reel with an associatedfirst cable wind-up device is designed for the cable section with theelectrical plug and a second cable reel with an associated second cablewind-up device is designed for the cable section with the electricalcoupling. In this case, the two cable reels can be arranged in one halfof the toolbox (either in the part referred to as the mounting portionin the following description of the drawing or in the part referred toas the cover portion therein), or the first cable reel in the mountingportion and a second cable reel in the cover portion of the toolbox orvice versa. In each case, the electrical cable on the first cable reelis electrically connected to the electrical cable on the second cablereel.

Preferably, the cable reel is or the cable reels are releasably attachedin the toolbox (for example, by a wing nut or a wing bolt or a snap lockbetween the cable reel and its axis of rotation), possibly along withthe respectively associated cable wind-up arrangement. The first and thesecond cable pass-through openings are designed in each case in the formof a slot extending to the outside edge of the respective side wall ofthe tool chest, through which the electrical cable can be drawn out andcan be pushed back in again perpendicular to its longitudinal direction.Thus, the toolbox offers the capability, as needed, of removing thecable reel or the cable reels with the entire electrical cable as wellas the electrical plug and the electrical connection from the toolboxand to replace it there after use. Thus, the electrical cable is evenmore versatile. When the cable reel or the cable reels are attached inthe toolbox, the electrical cable is always available as mentioned abovewherever the toolbox with the tool stored therein is located. If thecable reel or the cable reels have been removed from the toolbox, thatcable reel may be used as a conventional cable reel. Such use can bevery expedient in the individual instance, for example, when, because ofvery restricted space, the electrical cable is to be used without thetoolbox.

It has also proved advantageous for that portion of the interior of thetoolbox in which at least one cable reel is arranged to be separatedfrom the rest of the interior of the toolbox by a removable falsebottom. The false bottom can also assume the function of a separatehousing for the cable reel, such that this housing as such may beomitted. The false bottom may, however, also be used in addition to sucha separate housing and, for example, serve as a carrier for certainsmall hand tools or small parts. Moreover, the false bottom may alsoextend over only a portion of the base area of the interior of thetoolbox.

In order to prevent the ends of the wound up electrical cable with theelectrical plug and the electrical coupling from hanging down loose onthe outside of the box or the plug and the coupling from projectingbeyond the periphery of the box in a disadvantageous fashion, anattachment device for the cable connection ends are preferably providedon the outside of the toolbox. Indentations or recesses into which theplug and coupling can be inserted flush with the periphery of thetoolbox and where they may be affixed by a clamping holder mayadditionally be designed in the toolbox wall.

The electrical coupling of the toolbox according to the invention mayalso be designed in the form of a multiple coupling for simultaneousconnection of a plurality of tools to be operated electrically.

The present invention is directed to a toolbox that includes at leastone cable reel rotatably mounted in an interior of the toolbox, and anelectrical cable wound on the at least one cable reel. The electricalcable includes a first connection end with an electrical plug and asecond connection end with an electrical coupling. A cable wind-uparrangement is also included. A first cable pass-through opening isprovided in a wall of the toolbox. The first connection end is adaptedto pass through the first cable pass-through opening from the interiorof the toolbox to an exterior of the toolbox. A second cablepass-through opening is provided in one of a same and a different wallof the toolbox. The second connection end is adapted to pass through thesecond cable pass-through opening from the interior of the toolbox tothe exterior of the toolbox.

According to a feature of the present invention, the cable wind-uparrangement can include a device for simultaneously unwinding the firstand second connection ends and for simultaneously winding the first andsecond connection ends.

In accordance with another feature of the instant invention, the atleast one cable reel can be releasably coupled to the toolbox. The firstand the second cable pass-through openings may be formed as slotsextending to an edge of the wall of the toolbox in which the first andsecond cable pass-through openings are located, and wherein the at leastone cable reel is arranged to be removed in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to a direction in which the first and second connectionends pass through the first and second cable pass-through openings.

According to still another feature of the invention, a portion of theinterior of the toolbox can include a removable false bottom and the atleast one cable reel may be rotatably mounted to the removable falsebottom. The portion of the interior including the removable false bottomcan be isolated from a remaining portion of the interior of the toolbox.

The toolbox can also include at least one attachment device positionedto hold at least one of the first and second connection ends. The atleast one attachment device may be located on an outside portion of thetoolbox.

The present invention is also directed to a toolbox that includes atleast one cable reel rotatably mounted in a toolbox interior and anelectrical cable wound on the at least one cable reel. The electricalcable includes a first connection end with an electrical plug and asecond connection end with an electrical coupling. A first cablepass-through opening is provided in a wall of the toolbox. The firstconnection end can be adapted to pass through the first cablepass-through opening from the toolbox interior to a toolbox exterior. Asecond cable pass-through opening is provided in one of a same and adifferent wall of the toolbox. The second connection end can be adaptedto pass through the second cable pass-through opening from the toolboxinterior to the toolbox exterior.

Moreover, a cable winding device can be adapted to wind the electricalcable onto the at least one cable reel. The cable winding device can beadapted to simultaneously wind the first and second connection ends.Alternatively, the cable winding device may be adapted to wind only thesecond connection end. Further, the cable winding device can be adaptedto enable simultaneous unwinding of the first and second connectionends.

According to a feature of the instant invention, the at least one reelcan be removably coupled to the toolbox interior.

In accordance with still another feature of the invention, the toolboxinterior may include a first section and a second section, which areisolated from each other, and the at least one cable reel can berotatably coupled in one of the first and second sections. The first andsecond sections may be releasably coupled to each other.

According to yet another feature of the present invention, at least oneattachment device can be coupled to an exterior portion of the toolbox.The at least one attachment device may be adapted to releasably hold atleast one of the first and second connection ends.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is explained in the following with reference to thefollowing Figures:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the instantinvention having one cable reel;

FIG. 2A schematically illustrates a second exemplary embodiment of theinstant invention having two cable reels;

FIG. 2B schematically illustrates a third exemplary embodiment of theinstant invention having two cable reels;

FIG. 3A depicts a fourth embodiment of the present invention whichfeatures a removable false bottom;

FIG. 3B is a cross-section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A takenalong 3B—3B, which illustrates two cable reels attached to the falsebottom;

FIG. 4A is a bottom view perspective of another embodiment of the falsebottom;

FIG. 4B is a side view perspective of the false bottom from FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a bottom view isometric perspective of the false bottom fromFIGS. 4A and 4B;

FIG. 5B is an embodiment of the mounting portion of the presentperspective; and

FIG. 6 is an embodiment which features slots and an exterior attachmentdevice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In the figure, a toolbox according to the invention is depicted inperspective in an open position. For the sake of clarity, only the mostimportant parts of the object of the invention, i.e., the actualtoolbox, the electrical cable 3 on a cable reel 4 arranged therein, andthe two cable connection ends guided out of the toolbox are shown in asimplified depiction.

According to the figure, the toolbox has an mounting portion 1 and acover portion 2. The mounting portion 1 is provided to accommodate theelectrical cable 3 and other articles (not shown), such as a tool to beoperated electrically as well as, possibly, additional small hand toolsand any kinds of small parts. The electrical cable 3, whose coils 5 aredepicted only schematically by ellipses, is wound up on a cable reel 4in the mounting portion 1. The cable reel 4 is attached in the mountingportion 1 rotatably and releasably therefrom. The attachment of thecable reel 4 may be achieved, for example, by screwing (not depicted inthe drawing) to the mounting portion 1, using a manually releasable wingnut or wing bolt. Alternatively, a conventional snap lock between thecable reel 4 and its rotational axis attached to the mounting part 1 ispossible.

Moreover, the cable reel 4 is equipped with a cable wind-up arrangement6. This includes, for example, a spiral spring (not shown) through whoseaction the electrical cable 3 is always pulled in the wind-up directionof the cable reel 4. When the electrical cable 3 has been unwound to thedesired length, a known locking mechanism prevents automatic rewindingof the electrical cable 3.

A first cable pass-through opening 8, through which a first connectingend 9 of the electrical cable 3 with an electrical plug 10 is guidedthrough to the outside of the toolbox, is provided in a first side wall7 of the mounting portion 1 of the toolbox.

There is a second cable pass-through opening 12 on a second side wall 11of the mounting portion 1, which is positioned opposite the first sidewall 7, through which a second connection end 13 of the electrical cable3 with an electrical coupling 14 is guided through to the outside of thetoolbox. Alternatively, the two cable pass-through openings 8, 12 mayalso be located in adjacent side walls or in one and the same wall ofthe toolbox.

In the embodiment depicted in the drawing, the cable wind-up arrangement6 is designed only for the unwinding and winding of the cable sectionwith the electrical coupling 14.

An additional embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in which morethan one cable reel is utilized in the toolbox of the instant invention.In particular, a first cable reel 4″ with an associated first cablewind-up device 6″ is designed for the cable section with electrical plug10 and a second cable reel 4′ with an associated second cable wind-updevice 6′ is designed for the cable section with electrical coupling 14.As depicted in the Figures, two cable reels 4′ and 4″ can be arranged inone half of the toolbox (either in mounting portion 1, as depicted inFIG. 2A, or in cover portion 2), or first cable reel 4′ can be arrangedmounting portion 1 and a second cable reel 4″ can be arranged in coverportion 2 of the toolbox, as depicted in FIG. 2B, or vice versa. In eachcase, the electrical cable on the first cable reel is electricallyconnected to the electrical cable on the second cable reel, asschematically illustrated by electrical coupling 15.

For the use of the toolbox according to the invention, which contains atool to be operated electrically, it is brought to the site of use ofthe tool after being transported, separate transport of an extensioncable being superfluous. At the site, the tool is removed from thetoolbox. The electrical plug 10 on the first connection end 9 of theelectrical cable 3 is connected to the connection point of the existingelectrical network. The second connection end 13 with the electricalcoupling 14 is pulled out to the desired cable length through the secondcable pass-through opening 12 of the mounting portion 1. Then, theconnection cable of the tool to be operated electrically is connected tothe electrical coupling 14, whereupon the tool is ready for operation.After ending work with the tool, the connection ends 9, 13 of theelectrical cable 3 are separated from the electrical network and fromthe tool. The cable section with the electrical coupling 14 pulled outis rewound onto the cable reel 4. This occurs in accordance with thetype of cable wind-up arrangement 6 either by appropriate rotation ofthe cable reel 4 manually or using the restoring force of an appropriatespring.

FIG. 3A depicts an embodiment of the toolbox which features a removablefalse bottom 16. By the addition of the false bottom 16, the toolbox canbe partitioned into two compartments. This allows the cable reels 4,electrical cable 5, and wind-up device 6 to be partitioned off into aseparate compartment. A second compartment may then be utilized to storetools or parts. In this embodiment, the mounting portion 1 is attachedto cover portion 2 by hinged connection 19

FIG. 3B is a cross-section of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A takenalong 3B—3B, which illustrates two cable reels 4 attached to the falsebottom 16. With this embodiment, the cable reels 4, electrical cable 5,and wind-up devices 6, are not only partitioned off into a separatecompartment, but they are attached to the false bottom 16 for easyinstallation and removal. Also, indentations or recesses 18 are shown inwhich plug 10 and coupling 14 can be inserted flush wit the periphery ofthe toolbox.

FIG. 4A is a bottom view perspective of another embodiment of the falsebottom. Cable reels 4 and wind-up arrangements 6 are attached toattached to false bottom 16. Spring mechanisms 20 are utilized toretract electrical cable 3 back onto the cable reels. FIG. 4B is a sideview perspective of the false bottom from FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5A is a bottom view isometric perspective of the false bottom fromFIGS. 4A and 4B; and FIG. 5B is an embodiment of the mounting portion ofthe present perspective. Slots 21 and 22, which are used as the firstand second pass-through openings are provided which allows theelectrical cable 3 to be simultaneously removed or installed with thefalse bottom 16.

FIG. 6 depicts an embodiment which utilizes slots 21, 22 as the firstand second pass-through openings. Also illustrated in FIG. 4, is anotherembodiment of the attachment device 13 for the cable connection ends 10,14 provided on the exterior of the toolbox.

What is claimed is:
 1. A toolbox comprising: a mounting portioncomprising a bottom side and a first plurality of side walls connectedto said bottom side, said mounting portion defining a first compartment;a cover portion comprising a top side and a second plurality of sidewalls connected to said top side, said cover portion defining a secondcompartment; a removable false bottom having a mounting portion side anda cover portion side positionable between said mounting portion and saidcover portion; a first cable reel and second cable reel being mounted tosaid mounting portion side of said false bottom about a first and secondaxis, said first and second cable reels rotatable about the first andsecond axis, respectively; an electrical cable comprising a first cablesection having a first connection end having an electrical plug, saidfirst cable section being wound on said first cable reel, and a secondcable section having a second connection end with an electricalcoupling, said second cable section being wound on said second cablereel, said first and second cable sections being electrically coupledtogether; a first cable wind-up arrangement associated with said firstcable reel and a second cable wind-up arrangement associated with saidsecond cable reel; a first cable pass-through opening and a second cablepass-through opening in at least one of said first plurality of sidewalls of said mounting portion; wherein said mounting portion and saidcover portion are fit together to form said toolbox, said toolboxenclosing said false bottom, and wherein said first and second cablereels, said electrical cable, and said first and second cable wind-uparrangements are enclosed within the first compartment.
 2. The toolboxaccording to claim 1, said first and second cable wind-up arrangementsfurther comprising a first and second spring mechanism biased againstsaid first and second cable reels so that said first and second cablereels automatically wind-up when said first and second cables areunwound, respectively.
 3. The toolbox according to claim 1, said firstand second cable wind-up arrangements further comprising a first andsecond locking mechanism associated with said first and second wind-uparrangements respectively, wherein when said first and second cablesections are unwound to a desired length, said first and second lockingmechanisms temporarily lock said first and second cable sections in thedesired length.
 4. The toolbox according to claim 1, said first cablereel and second cable reel releasably mounted to said mounting portionside of said false bottom by one of wing nuts, wing bolts and snaplocks.
 5. The toolbox according to claim 4, said second compartmentdefining a space utilized for storing tools.
 6. The toolbox according toclaim 1, said false bottom configured as a partition between said firstand second compartments isolating said first and second cable reels,said electrical cable, and said first and second cable wind-uparrangements from said second compartment.
 7. The toolbox according toclaim 1, said first cable pass-through opening and said second cablepass-through opening formed as slots extending to an outside edge ofsaid first plurality of side walls of said mounting portion, whereinsaid false bottom, said first and second cable reels, said electricalcable, and said first and second cable wind-up arrangements arepositioned within the first compartment and removed from the firstcompartment in a substantially normal direction to the planarorientation of said bottom side of said mounting portion as an entireunit.
 8. The toolbox according to claim 1, said first and secondpass-through openings formed as one of indentations and recessesprojecting inside the first compartment for which said electrical plugand said electrical coupling are stored when said electrical cable iscompletely wound up.
 9. The toolbox according to claim 1, furthercomprising at least one attachment device coupled to an exterior portionof said toolbox, wherein said at least one attachment device is adaptedto releasably hold at least one of said first and second connectionends.
 10. The toolbox according to claim 1, wherein said mountingportion and said cover portion are coupled together by a hinge to formsaid toolbox.
 11. The toolbox according to claim 1, further comprisinglocking hardware for securing said mounting portion and cover portiontogether.
 12. A toolbox comprising: a mounting portion comprising abottom side and a first plurality of side walls connected to said bottomside, said mounting portion defining a first compartment; a coverportion comprising a top side and a second plurality of side wallsconnected to said top side, said cover portion defining a secondcompartment; a first cable reel and second cable reel mounted within thefirst compartment to said bottom side, said first and second cable reelsrotatable about a first and second axis, respectively; an electricalcable comprising a first cable section having a first connection endwith an electrical plug, said first cable section being wound on saidfirst cable reel, and a second cable section having a second connectionend with an electrical coupling, said second cable section being woundon said second cable reel, and said first and second cable sectionsbeing electrically coupled together; a first cable wind-up arrangementassociated with said first cable reel and a second cable wind-uparrangement associated with said second cable reel; a first cablepass-through opening and a second cable pass-through opening in at leastone of said first plurality of side walls of said mounting portion;wherein said mounting portion and said cover portion fit together toform said toolbox, and wherein said first and second cable reels, saidelectrical cable, and said first and second cable wind-up arrangementsare enclosed with the first compartment.
 13. The toolbox according toclaim 12, further comprising a removable false bottom having a mountingportion side and a cover portion side, said removable false bottompositionable between said mounting portion and said cover portion. 14.The toolbox according to claim 13, said second compartment defining aspace utilized for storing tools.
 15. The toolbox according to claim 12,said false bottom configured a partition between said first and secondcompartments isolating said first and second cable reels, saidelectrical cable, and said first and second cable wind-up arrangementsfrom said second compartment.
 16. The toolbox according to claim 15,said first cable reel and second cable reel releasably mounted to saidbottom side of said mounting portion by one of wing nuts, wing bolts andsnap locks.
 17. The toolbox according to claim 12, said first and secondcable wind-up arrangements further comprising a first and second springmechanism biased against said first and second cable reels so that saidfirst and second cable reels automatically wind-up when said first andsecond cables are unwound, respectively.
 18. The toolbox according toclaim 12, said first and second cable wind-up arrangements furthercomprising a first and second locking mechanism associated with saidfirst and second wind-up arrangements respectively, wherein when saidfirst and second cable sections are unwound to a desired length, saidfirst and second locking mechanisms temporarily lock said first andsecond cable sections in the desired length.
 19. The toolbox accordingto claim 12, said first cable pass-through opening and said second cablepass-through opening formed as slots extending to an outside edge ofsaid first plurality of side walls of said mounting portion, said firstand second cable reels, said electrical cable, and said first and secondcable wind-up arrangements may be positioned within the firstcompartment or removed from the first compartment in a substantiallynormal direction to the planar orientation of said bottom side of saidmounting portion as an entire unit.
 20. The toolbox according to claim12, said first and second pass-through openings formed as one ofindentations and recesses projecting inside the first compartment forwhich said electrical plug and said electrical coupling are stored whensaid electrical cable is completely wound up.
 21. The toolbox accordingto claim 12, further comprising at least one attachment device coupledto an exterior portion of said toolbox, wherein said at least oneattachment device is adapted to releasably hold at least one of saidfirst and second connection ends.
 22. The toolbox according to claim 12,wherein said mounting portion and said cover portion are coupledtogether by a hinge to form said toolbox.
 23. The toolbox according toclaim 12, further comprising locking hardware for securing said mountingportion and cover portion together.